Welcome to February! You may be recovering from January or soaring into this month, either way—here we are. This is the month when a celebration of love occurs and a new holiday has appeared, “Galentines”. I certainly have some ladies that mean the world to me. While I don’t have the margin to host this year, I will be sending some cards and texts to express my appreciation and love. In the midst of much love is the reality of comparison. By definition, the quality of being similar or equivalent. It is the inescapable external and internal reality that we all face each day. We have a deep, God-given desire to know how we are doing. So, how do you and I navigate this space well? 

Research supports the notion that our brains naturally have a desire to know how we are doing. Let’s not fight it, let’s embrace it. Give your brain this information so it does not seek to find it with an external progress report. You and I both agree that the idea of simply “stop comparing” is not sustainable or natural. Jon Acuff in his text, “All it takes is a goal” provides a powerful alternative by saying, “The only thing that will end your temptation to compare yourself to other people is when you finally have your own scorecard to look at.” While he is referring to the context of tracking goals and progress, I believe this conceptual framework can be applied to purpose and direction. Maybe therein lies one of the keys to not comparing, get busy documenting the courageous steps you are taking each day. Have a hard conversation with a friend, count it. Enroll in a class that aligns with your gifting, count it. Walk quietly and listen to God’s voice, count it. You may be thinking, this is a good idea Erin, but where do I even start? Understandable. Start with the four areas of your life: spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically. Look at each area and ask yourself what it would look like to take a small step forward. Then, after you take that step, count it!    

Our ability to embrace who we are, what God is calling us to do, and boldly take steps forward can be derailed or empowered dependent upon how we navigate comparison. This month, I am excited to further encourage and equip this community by answering the following questions: 

• How does Comparison relate to Identity?
• How does Comparison relate to Purpose? 
• How does Comparison relate to Direction?

Thriving Together,

~Erin Mander